Construction of wooden buildings



(No Model.)

G. G. GILMAN.

GONSTRUGTION OF WOODEN BUILDINGS. No. 338,509. Patented Mar. 23, 1886.

07/ J7: I Invc 71M?" vfg za UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES CARROLL GILMAN, OF ELDORA, IOWA.

CONSTRUCTION OF WOODEN BUILDINGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 338,509, dated March 23, 1886.

Application filed January 14, 1885. Serial No. 152,840. (No model.)

1'0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES CARROLL GIL- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Eldora, Hardin county, State of Iowa, have 5 invented new and useful Improvement in the Construction of Roofs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention involves the use of porous or cellular terracotta, otherwise known as terra-cotta lumber, or any other porous burnedbrick material; and it consists in combining this material with other essential elements or parts of the construction to form the roof of a building or other structure.

In the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, is represented a perspective view of a roof embodying my in vention.

Terracotta lumber or porous burned brick,

as is well known, is a non-combustible material which more effectually resists the action offire than brick, is to a very high degreea nonconductor of heat and cold, and also of sound, is a good nonconductor of electricity, is easily 5 wrought with edged tools, and will receive and hold nails. This material I so apply in the construction of roofs as to cover or inclose the woodwork thereof, and thus effectually protect the same against destruction by fire,

0 and prevent the penetration of heat or cold into the interior.

Referring to the drawing, 1 represents the rafters, to which I nail or otherwise secure, in lieu of the boards usually employed, slabs S,

of terracotta lumber, from two to three inches in thickness and in length corresponding to the distance from center to center of the rafters, preferably twelve inches; Slates, tiles, metal sheets, or shingles T,first lightly bedded 0 in mortar, U, or in a covering of cement or bituminous mastic, are subsequently nailed to the said slabs. Wooden shingles bedded in lime-mortar which have been in place for a year can be detached from the slabs only with great difficulty, the shingle, mortar, and slab 5 having apparently become one solid mass. The tightness of such a roof, its impenetrability to heat or cold, and the impossibility of burning it by outside application is evident.

To fairly fire-proof the inside of the roof and to provide an additional barrier to the penetration of heat or cold, ceiling-slabs IV, one or one and one-half inch in thickness, are nailed to the under side of the rafters and subsequently plastered. The spaces existing 5 between the inside and outside sheets of terracotta lumber afford air-chambers in depth equal to that of the rafters employed, and thus the garret can be made the coolest room in the building. This result is due not alone to the air-chambers, but also partly to the fact that the terra-cotta lumber is a very bad conductor of heat and cold.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent 1s 1. The combination, with the rafters, of slabs or sheets of terra-cotta lumber secured to the same and a layer of cement or its equivalent applied to the outer surface thereof, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the rafters, of slabs of terra-cotta lumber secured to the same and a covering which protects the said slabs from the action of the weather and renders the 7 5 roof water-tigh t, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the rafters, of slabs or sheets of terra-cotta lumber secured to the same, a layer of cement or its equivalent, and an outer covering of slate or shingles bedded in said layer, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES CARROLL GILMAN.

IVitnesses:

F. W. PILLsBURY, H. F. DOLPH. 

